Jacket closure



Aug. 15, 1967 K. E. SENSER 3,335,4'2E

JACKET CLOSURE Filed July 30, 1964 IN VENTOQ Karl 5 Sense- United StatesPatent 3,335,425 JACKET CLOSURE Karl E. Seuser, Riverside, Ill.,assignor to Sears Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of NewYork Filed July 30, 1964, Ser. No. 386,356 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-96) Myinvention relates to garments of the jackets, coat, or shirt typeadapted to be worn on the upper part of the body either as an article ofunderwear or as an outer garment. More particularly, my inventionrelates to an improvement in jacket-type garments normaly closed downthe front by a slide fastener.

While not so restricted, my invention is especially applicable to theso-called thermal type of garment suitable for extremely cold weather,either as an undershirt or for outer wear, and characterized in that itis formed of a multi-ply fabric, including a batt or a synthetic foam orboth, in any desired relation. Such fabrics are notably efficient inproviding a high degree of thermal insulation with low weight and bulk.

As ordinarily fabricated, jackets of this type comprise a pair ofjoinable front panels extending from a vertical line approximately atthe center of the body to the side where they are stitched to a backpanel. These front panels are usually asymmetric for the reason that itis considered.

undesirable for the slide fastener to be exposed either at the outsideor inside of the garment-if at the latter, it would contact the body inan undergarment, which would be highly uncomfortable, while in an outergarment it might catch and jam in an adjacent garment, and at the frontwould impart an unattractive appearance.

Accordingly, in the standard form of garment, it is customary to secureat least one row of fasteners along a line offset by several inches fromthe free edge of the panel in order to provide a substantial overlap toprevent exposure of the fasteners. This leaves the fasteners exposed onthe inside, a highly undesirable condition in either an undergarment oroutergarment, as noted above.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a garment of the typereferred to characterized in having a pair of substantially identicalfront panels in size and shape. Both of the cooperating strips of slidefasteners are secured relatively close to the free edge of said panelsand each secured along with a binding tape by a single row of stitching.In conjunction with the slide fasteners I provide on each panel,adjacent the slide fasteners, a row of spaced auxiliary detachablefasteners so positioned and arranged that, after the slide fasteners aresecured, the marginal portion of one of said panels is folded over acorresponding marginal portion of the other panel, whereby said marginalportions overlap, covering the slide fasteners, and said auxiliaryfasteners are then secured, making a neat and attractive appearance fromthe front and with the slide fasteners covered and unexposed from bothsides of the garment.

My invention will best understood from the attached drawings forming apart of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention, wherein FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one type ofgarment to which my invention may be applied;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one front panel forming an element of thegarment seen in FIG. 1, viewed from that face of the panel which is tobe on the outside of the garment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the opposite front panel designed to mate withthat seen in FIG. 2 and viewed from the face which will be on the insideof the garment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective view of the bottommarginal portions of the respective 3,335,425 Patented Aug. 15, 1967panels seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, in juxtaposition to each other;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 after the panels have been broughttogether and the slide fasteners interengaged, and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 after the marginal porition ofone panel has been folded over the other and immediately prior tosecuring the auxiliary fasteners.

Referring first to FIG. 1, I show here a garment 10 designed to be wornas an outer jacket, although it will be readily understood that withlittle or no modification except for such details as pockets, collar andthe like, substantially the same construction might be employed as anundergarment. In any event, the garment may be of any standard or othersuitable pattern or design except as hereinafter described.

The main body of the garment comprises a back panel (not shown) and apair of front panels and 12b, as seen detached in FIGS. 2 and 3,respectively. These panels are substantially identical in shape, sizeand material, thus making for the utmost economy and efiiciency infabrication. Needless to say, any suitable type of fabric may beemployed, although I consider my invention especially applicable, asstated above, to garments formed of the so-called thermal fabrics,characterized by quilted laminations.

Each of the panels 12a and 12b has an edge 15, 15', which edges aredesigned to be free in the finished garment and disposed at the frontand center of the body 'and to be detachably secured together when thegarment is closed.

Turning now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, wherein the various parts are showndiagrammatically, it will be seen that slide fasteners 18:: and 18b arecarried by fabric tapes in the usual manner and adapted to interengagewith each other. Secured to the free edges of said panels 12a and 12band overlapping the slide fastener tapes are strips of binding or piping20, 20, a single row of stitching 22 securing both binding 20 and slidetape for economy in production.

Also attached to each of the panels 12a and 12b is a row of spaceddetachable fasteners 25a and 251), which may be of any suitable type,such as snap fasteners. It will be readily understood that other wellknown or other suitable types of detachable fasteners, such as books andeyes, etc., might be employed in lieu of the snappers, although thelatter are preferred. Such fasteners, which are well known in the art,comprise male studs 25a, a row of which is disposed on one of thepanels, say panel 1211, while the mating female elements 25b comprisesockets facing the inside with heads exposed on the outside of thegarment, as seen in FIG. 1.

It will be noted that the auxiliary fastener elements 25a are arrangedinwardly of the adjacent line of slide fasteners 18a, while the matingauxiliary fasteners 2515 are arranged outwardly of the line of slidefasteners 18b, for reasons which will now appear.

When the garment is worn, in closing it, the slide fasteners are broughtinto juxtaposition by first moving strips 18a and 18b from the positionseen in FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5, requiring bending both stripsoutwardly toward each other, and then interengaging the teeth by meansof the usual slide. The parts now take the arrangement seen in FIG. 5,with the interengaged slide fasteners exposed.

The closure is then completed by moving the free marginal portion ofpanel 12b to the position seen in FIG. 6 overlapping the oppositemarginal portion of panel 12a, and with snapper elements 25b overlyingtheir mating elements 25a. The snappers (or other suit-able spaced ofasteners) are then secured together and the garment is now fullyclosed, as seen in FIG. 1.

The invention just described has many important advantages. As statedabove, the use of identical patterns for the front panels 12a and 12])effects substantial economies in production, resulting in a saving ofseveral inches of material. Additionalyy, in producing garments inaccordance with my invention, three sewing operations are eliminated ascompared with the standard fabrication of garments of this generalcharacter.

Thus, there is a substantial saving in labor as well as material as aresult of my invention. Furthermore, garments embodying my invention arehighly attractive in appearance.

By reason of the double row of slide fasteners and the spaced fasteners,extra protection is provided against entry of cold air at the front ofthe garment as compared with the standard garment of this type.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to belimited to the specific embodiment shown and described or usesmentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of myinvention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coat-type garment, comprising (a) a pair of front panelsconstituting in outline substantially mirror images of each other,

(b) a pair of cooperating slide fastener strips,

(c) one of said strips being attached to the outer face of one of saidpanels adjacent the free edge thereof,

(d) the other strip being attached to the inner face of the other paneladjacent the free edge thereof, each strip having a row of teethnormally extending toward opposite sides of the garment and remote fromeach other, whereby, when said strips are bent about 180 along alongitudinal axis and toward each other, said rows of teeth will bedisposed facing each other adjacent the center of the body, where theymay be interenga-ged, and

(e) a row of spaced auxiliary fasteners secured on each of said panelsadajacent and aligned parallel to said strips, at least certain of saidauxiliary fasteners being disposed on the opposite side of said onestrip from the free edge of said one panel and at least certain of saidauxiliary fasteners being disposed between said other strip and the freeedge of said other panel, those of said other panel being brought intoopposed juxtaposition with mating auxiliary fasteners of the one panel,after the slide fasteners have been interengaged, when a marginalportion of one panel is overlapped on the other and said strips areparallel with said panel faces whereby said auxiliary fasteners may bedetachably secured together to provide a double closure for saidgarment. 2. In a combination as claim 1. 5 (a) a binding strip embracingthe free edge of each panel together with one of said fastener strips,and (-b) a row of stitching securing each binding strip to itsrespective panel. 3. In a garment having a pair of oppositely disposed1O panels have interengageable and readily separable substantiallyvertical free edges, quickly attachable and detachable means for closingsaid panels comprising (a) a pair of cooperating slide fastener stripsdisposed respectively adjacent each of said edges,

(b) one of said strips being secured to the outer face of one of saidpanels,

(c) the other strip being attached to the inner face of the other panel,each strip having a row of teeth normally extending away from said freeedges in spaced parallel lines, whereby, when said strips are both bentabout 180 along a longitudinal axis and toward each other, said rows ofteeth will be disposed facing each other adjacent the approximate frontcenter of the garment where they may be interengaged, and- (d) a row ofspaced auxiliary fasteners secured on each of said panels adjacent andalined generally parallel to said strips, at least certain of saidauxiliary fasteners of one row being disposed on the opposite side ofthe slide fasteners of said one strip from the free edge of said onepanel and at least certain of said auxiliary fasteners of the other rowbeing disposed between the slide fasteners of said other strip and thefree edge of said other panel, whereby, after said fasteners areinterengaged and a marginal portion of one panel is over-lapped on theother with said strips being parallel with said panel faces and theauxiliary fasteners of said other panel are brought into opposedjuxtaposition with the mating auxiliary fasteners of the one panel, saidauxiliary fasteners of the respective rows may be detachably securedtogether to provide a double closure for said garment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1927 Hart 21- 79 4/1951 Ganz296

1. A COAT-TPYE GARMENT, COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF FRONT PANELSCONSTITUTING IN OUTLINE SUBSTANTIALY MIRRIR IMAGES OF EACH, (B) A PAIROF COOPERATING SLIDE FASTENER STRIPS, (C) ONE OF SAID STRIPS BEINGATTACHED TO THE OUTER FACE OF ONE OF SAID PANELS ADJACENT THE FREE EDGETHEREOF, (D) THE OTHER STRIP BEING ATTACHED TO THE INNER FACE OF THEOTHER PANEL AJDACENT THE FREE EDGE THEREOF, EACH STRIP HAVING A ROW OFTEETH NORMALLY EXTENDING TOWARD OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE GARMENT AND REMOTEFROM EACH OTHER, WHEREBY, WHEN SAID STRIPS ARE BENT ABOUT 180* ALONG ALONGITUDINAL AXIS AND TOWARD EACH OTHER, SAID ROWS OF TEETH WILL BEDISPOSED FACING EACH OTHER ADJACENT THE CENTER OF THE BODY, WHERE THEYMAY BE INTERENGAGED, AND (E) A ROW OF SPACED AUXILIARY FASTENERS SECUREDON EACH OF SAID PANELS ADAJACENT AND ALIGNED PARALLEL TO SAID STRIPS, ATLEAST CERTAIN OF SAID AUXILIARY FASTENERS BEING DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSITESIDE OF SAID ONE STRIP FROM THE FREE EDGE OF SAID ONE PANEL AND AT LEASTCERTAIN OF SAID AUXILIARY FASTENERS BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID OTHERSTRIP AND THE FREE EDGE OF SAID OTHER PANEL, THOSE OF SAID OTHER PANELBEING BROUGHT INTO OPPOSED JUXTAPOSITION WITH MATING AUXILIARY FASTENERSOF THE ONE PANEL, AFTER THE SLIDE FASTENERS HAVE BEEN INTERENGAGED, WHENA MARGINAL PORTION OF ONE PANEL IS OVERLAPPED ON THE OTHER AND SAIDSTRIPS ARE PARALLEL WITH SAID PANEL FACES WHEREBY SAID AUXILIARYFASTENERS MAY BE DETACHABLY SECURED TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A DOUBLE CLOSUREFOR SAID GARMENT.